The freight business is a challenging industry to survive in. It is not as simple as getting things from A to B. Freight needs to arrive in excellent condition and at the right time.
It is an industry that is notoriously vulnerable to macro-forces that are outside of its control. Anything from the weather to traffic congestion can knock out schedules for hours or even days.
Here are some of the major challenges facing the transport industry and some ideas on how your business can rise to those challenges and glide along this bumpy road!
Keeping fuel costs in check
Fuel costs will inevitably dominate your outgoings. However, there are things that you can do to stop them spiraling out of control. The obvious place to start is ensuring that every one of your vehicles is serviced and maintained correctly. Service issues such as under-inflated tires and old engine oil can increase fuel consumption considerably.
Driving technique has a role to play. Drivers can cut consumption by avoiding idling, ensuring vehicles are correctly loaded and driving smoothly. This means no harsh braking and accelerating.
Keeping the client happy
Keeping clients happy is the bottom line. If your clients are dissatisfied, your business is sunk. However, do not fall into the trap of offering the impossible. You are setting yourself up for failure and client dissatisfaction. Your clients will respect you for being honest and transparent. Agree on clear delivery goals and keep to them but do not cut corners.
Look after your employees. They are your most important asset. Punishing delivery schedules can take their toll on drivers. Don’t forget there are health and safety and road safety regulations to be adhered to.
Embracing the future
If your business is going to survive in the brave new world of logistics and freight, you must learn to explore new ways of financing your business. This could be something as simple as a new loan or a bill factoring service. So what is a freight bill factoring company and how can they help your business? They are a company that will pay your invoices early so that you can invest the money in more trucks and fuel.
You can also look at some of the great loan products that are available to small businesses. Get a full financial review of your business carried out and decide on the best way forward.
You will ignore the latest innovations in technology at your peril. The most successful freight companies understand the importance of technology in helping to streamline their businesses.
The new track and trace systems enable companies to check on the status of every one of their pallets at any time of the day or night via an interactive map. Clients highly value the expected collection and delivery data. The system relies on smart devices which are interconnected over the Internet, allowing them to send and receive data.
If you want to be up there with the competition you need to ahead of the curve as much as possible.
